NHTSA Complaint #11529850 — 2017 KIA SOUL

The engine of my vehicle began to make a knocking sound while driving, without a warning. It was diagnosed to be due to a broken rod and excessive cylinder clearance, leading to faulty engine, that needs replacement. Yes, it is available for inspection. Due to being stranded off the freeway for over 4 hours, over 300 miles from home, myself and 1 other person were left stranded overnight without a vehicle. We had to pay for an unplanned hotel room for the night and U-Haul to tow the car back home. We did not drive the car further, because we were worried about the possibility of the car and engine overheating or getting worse. Yes, the issue has been diagnosed by a AAA mechanic and Kia service mechanic, who notified me that this issue is common among many other Kias. The Kia service department notified me that I need the engine to be replaced, and that they will not be covering the charges. Additionally, a new engine rod knock sensor has been made for Kias, and I was never notified to get the sensor installed. The engine failure did not lead to any warning lights and when the issue first occurred, I stopped driving the car immediately to not make matters worse. In addition, this vehicle has been maintained regularly (following Kia guidelines), and has only 59000 miles.